As many as 18 U.S. missiles struck an al Qaeda and Taliban stronghold near the Afghanistan border on Tuesday.

The missiles hit cars, homes and tents in north Waziristan, killing 14 suspected insurgents. The Doga area in Waziristan is said to be the location of hideouts and training camps for the terrorist groups.

Missile strikes are one of the few options open to the American military to fight terrorists in the northern tribal areas since the Pakistani government will not let U.S. forces into the region to conduct ground operations.

Tuesday's assault was the third such strike since the failed bombing attack on New York City's Times Square earlier this month.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the nation's ties with the U.S. have not suffered as a result of the bombing plot, which Washington has

linked to militants with bases in the lawless border regions.

"There's nothing to worry," he said. "Our relationship is smooth and it is moving toward a partnership."

Meanwhile, the Obama administration is being urged to add the Pakistani Taliban to a terrorism blacklist.